10 | FOOD & WINE
29 January 2020
New owner for Onrus locals’ ‘happy place’ H eartbeat Café has been a much-loved part of the Onrus social scene over the past few years. Situated on the corner of Van Blommestein Street and Old Main Road, it is a favourite spot for locals to meet for breakfast or a light lunch, or just drop in for coffee and cake. Customers especially enjoy sitting outside and watching the unhurried world of Onrus go by.
Indulge in Origins’ unique summer menu Origins at The Marine’s summer menu, developed by Executive Chef Tronette Dippenaar, offers traditional favourites with an Asian twist that can be enjoyed at this elegant yet laid-back venue perched on the cliffs overlooking Walker Bay. If you haven’t sampled it this season, why not start with a leisurely stroll along the Cliff Path before indulging in the generous fare, with a bottle of wine from one of our award-winning local wineries. Choose from a range of starters and salads to kick off your meal – try the traditional bouillabaisse seafood soup, fragrant steamed mussels, poke bowls with Norwegian salmon and South Atlantic tuna, or the signature Origins Salad: pears, Overberg Gruberg cheese, walnuts, celery, bacon bits and croutons dressed in wholegrain mustard vinaigrette. The wild mushroom and broccoli potato gnocchi, served with Parmesan, mushroom cream and pine nuts, is an option for vegetarians.
Complete your meal with the rich flavours that Origins' desserts are renowned for – opt for the much-loved Origins Mess (butterscotch and hazelnut ice cream complemented by meringue, orange caramel, peanut chocolate and orange dust), an upside-down Elgin apple tart (served with citrus and honey ice cream, rooibos caramel sauce and toasted almonds), dark chocolate soufflé, rooibos lemon semifreddo, or tonka panna cotta (complete with raspberry sorbet, pecan brittle and berry-coconut tapioca).
Owned by a bundle of energy called Sulet Joubert, this charming little corner eatery/deli has now come to the end of what Sulet calls its “wonderful, crazy, beautiful journey”. As from 1 February, Heartbeat Café will have a new owner when Sulet hands over the baton to Retha van Loggerenberg. “Heartbeat will get a new name and a new look, but I can assure all my loyal customers that it will remain the same happy, community café – the “heartbeat” of Onrus,” says Sulet. “I am eternally grateful to all our loyal customers, many of whom have become part of the Heartbeat family, and to my hardworking team, as I could never have done this without them. Heartbeat Café played a vital part in my life at a time when I needed to find ‘community’ again,
but now it is time for a new adventure. I wish Retha all the best and am looking forward to visiting and enjoying the café from the other side of the counter!”
Retha, who hails from North West and settled in Onrus three and a half years ago, says she used to own a coffee shop many years ago in Brits called Vivaldi’s. She was a regular customer of the Heartbeat Café and told Sulet that if she ever wanted to sell, she should speak to her first. With the deal now signed and sealed, Retha has been joined by her son, Jaco, who is all fired up to help his mom put her own stamp on her new business. Without giving too much away, Retha mentions that the name will change to Zest Café and that she’ll be redoing the décor and bringing in more yellow. “The look and feel may change but it will still be the locals’ happy place,” she says. Other changes will include the addition of some healthy, light meals and vegetarian options to the menu, but have no fear, the decadent treats will still be there. In fact, rumour has it that Retha is a champion baker and that her milktart will knock your socks off. – Hedda Mittner
No meal is complete without some fine local cheeses (like Cremazola Gorgonzola and La Petit France Camembert), accompanied by green grape chutney, beetroot and red onion preserve, and pineapple and peppadew compote. For bookings, contact 028 313 1000 or bookings@themarine.co.za
Main courses feature some delectable concoctions, such as the grilled Springbok loin with creamy Parmesan risotto, wild mushrooms, pearl onions, red cabbage and sultana chutney; the tender roasted Overberg rack of lamb with capsicum couscous, aubergine purée, pearly onions and warm lamb vinaigrette; or the justifiably famous Walker Bay fish curry – locally sourced fish and shellfish seasoned with Thai spices, coconut, and onion and ginger pickle, and served on a bed of fragrant sticky rice. The sustainable Origins seafood platter to share is also worth writing home about – grilled prawns, steamed mussels, pan-seared line fish and calamari are accompanied by savoury rice, triple-cooked chips and a fresh garden salad with a choice of sauces.
Sulet Joubert and her team in front of Heartbeat Café with its new owner. At the back, from left are Velecia Laverlot, Maria Schippers, Trudene Hanekom, Jaco van Loggerenberg and his mom, Retha. In front are Asiphe Mvela, Sulet Joubert and Anne Droomer. PHOTO: Hedda Mittner
